DATA SNAP: Australian Jun Retail Sales Fall 1.4% Vs May

SYDNEY -- Australian retail sales fell 1.4% to a seasonally adjusted A$19.42 billion in June from A$19.70 billion in May and rose from A$18.07 billion a year earlier, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday.

Economists surveyed ahead of the announcement on average had expected a 0.5% rise in sales for June from May.

Sales had risen 1.0% in May on month.

Sales also rose 2.0% in the second quarter from the first, in chain volume terms, compared with expectations for a rise of 1.2%.

Department store sales fell 8.8% in June from May, the bureau said.